What an outstanding way to open Slush 2017 — first the opening show, then a few words of welcome by President of Finland Sauli Niinistö and culminating with Former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore, on stage. Al Gore finished the Opening Keynote Speech with words of encouragement.

Al Gore captured the Slush audience from the very beginning with his strong presence by addressing three questions concerning climate change: “Do we really have to change?Can we change? and Will we change?”. But he had some comforting words for us on this depressing topic: “Here is the good news: we do now have the tools to solve the climate crisis, we just have to use them, we have to implement them. We are going to win this struggle!”

Mr. Gore is not only a climate activist; he knows a little something about the business world too, as an investor himself. “Sustainability plays a crucial role in the business world. Investors have to be involved in seeking out the good business plans that not only make a profit, but make a profit in a sustainable way that does not sacrifice the future in pursuit of very short-term profits.”

With the industrial era coming to an end, he points out the significance every single individual has in changing it around the world. And this is not happening in only one place. “The world is now in the early stages of a sustainability revolution. It is sweeping the world. We are seeing a transformation on the way businesses are done. This sustainability revolution happens to be the greatest business and investing opportunity in the entire history of the world.”

The audience applauded and cheered at all the right moments, and the remaining time there was silence except for Mr. Gore’s voice. Al Gore concluded his speech by saying: ”Final point, I realize that some are tempted to doubt that we as human beings have the will to change and meet this moment in history successfully. Let me just leave you with what I’ve learned. The will to change is itself a renewable resource.”

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